children's author
  • Home
  • About me
  • My books
  • Other published work
  • Blog
  • Writerly interviews/blogs
  • Presentations
  • Interviews with authors
  • Events
  • Activities
    • Scared Book
    • When I see Grandma >
      • Timeline Quiz
      • Activity pages >
        • Flower activities
        • Paper cup telephone
        • Cooking
        • Pictures to colour
  • Bios and Press Kit
  • Links
  • Home
  • About me
  • My books
  • Other published work
  • Blog
  • Writerly interviews/blogs
  • Presentations
  • Interviews with authors
  • Events
  • Activities
    • Scared Book
    • When I see Grandma >
      • Timeline Quiz
      • Activity pages >
        • Flower activities
        • Paper cup telephone
        • Cooking
        • Pictures to colour
  • Bios and Press Kit
  • Links
Search by typing & pressing enter

YOUR CART

24/4/2015 1 Comment

Book gem - about dementia

Picture
I know I said that my next blog post would be about finding your new book 'gem', but then a gem just popped into my letterbox and I had to rave over it first!!

Do You Remember is a new book from my publisher, Wombat Books. Written by Kelly O'Gara and Anna McNeil and divinely illustrated by Kelly as well, it is about a grandchild mouse coming to terms with grandmother mouse's developing dementia.
This book would be a perfect precursor to When I See Grandma, for children and families struggling to understand the changes that dementia brings.  

At the beginning of the book the child mouse asks grandmother mouse 'Do you remember...?' times spent together. When odd things start to happen with Grandma, the book then pivots on what I found the most poignant page - the child mouse looking out pleadingly as Grandmother has forgotten even the child - and "Everything was changing." The child mouse then becomes the keeper of the memories - new memories and old. She paints the old memories over the hillside, keeping them alive, and makes new ones visiting Grandma even when it is painful. The book ends perfectly - like a kiss. 

I found it interesting that Kelly used the motif of the dandelion on the cover and throughout the book, giving a folkloric suggestion of love, or wishes.  (The dandelion features in my book too!) The pages are full colour with a luminous glow, using mostly sunset-pastel and earthy, natural tones in a woodland setting. The words and pictures combine artfully to imbue the rodents with appealing character - reminiscent of The Tale of Despereaux.

A few pages of easy, child-friendly information about dementia follow the end of the story, still attractively echoing the illustration style, plus a note to parents at the end.

Do You Remember is a delightful, warm book written and illustrated with great sensitivity and understanding.

Wombat Books is offering a book package of When I See Grandma ($19.99) and Do You Remember ($24.99) for the special price of $40 postage included. 


Next time - how to find other gems!

1 Comment
Lynne Stringer link
29/4/2015 06:43:48 am

Two lovely, poignant books.

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    RSS Feed

    Archives

    March 2025
    November 2024
    June 2024
    March 2024
    December 2023
    October 2023
    July 2023
    April 2023
    March 2023
    December 2022
    September 2022
    June 2022
    April 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    September 2021
    July 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    September 2020
    July 2020
    April 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    March 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    November 2013

Proudly powered by Weebly